“Your car’s ready,” said Frank at Paoli Auto. “You can pick it up after five.”
“Great, I said. We had the Jeep over there for the state inspection. It’s an older car and usually something needs fixed.
“Everything checked out great for the state inspection,” said Frank. “Tires were good, brakes were good, all the lights and signals work.”
“Cool. How much do I owe you?” I asked.
“Hey, one thing. You wrote that you wanted an oil change. We didn’t do that. Didn’t need it. You only drove the car a couple thousand miles and that oil lasts ten thousand. Let’s change it next time — and we can do the plugs and air filter then,” said Frank.
I was thankful as I always am with those guys at Paoli Auto. They’re exactly what you’d want in a local mechanic. They speak plainly. They fix your car. They’re honest.
You have to be a really great business person not to take the easy money up front. I mean, they could have changed my oil and I wouldn’t have blinked. I asked for it. But they told me I didn’t need it. Saved me money. And they know I’ll be back.
When you run an ethical and long-term business, you know your customers will be back. That, and — like every ad and sitcom — have a guy named Frank.
